Kitty Dunn

Reasons to NOT hate Minnesota

by Kitty Dunn,posted Oct 2 2009 8:26AM

With the Badgers taking on the Gophers on Saturday and the Packers playing the Vikings on Monday, there's been a lot of Minnesota bashing going on around here. I just want to remind everybody that there are some reasons to like Minnesota--some pretty great bands and musicians have hailed from the land of 10,000 lakes.
Bob Dylan: the spokesman for a generation, Pulitzer prize winner, and all-around unpredictable guy. (I love that he went to Neil Young's boyhood home and stood outside until he got invited in.)
Prince: I was never a big fan of his '80s hits, but he is a hell of a guitar player. And I did enjoy that guitar he played at the Super Bowl a few years ago.
The Jayhawks: One of my favorite alt-country bands! Favorite albums: Tomorrow the Green Grass, Rainy Day Music
Peter Himmelman: We played his song "Impermanent Things" from the album "Strength to Strength" today. A very healing song. What's interesting about Peter is his stage shows are very different from his music, which is often introspective. He ranges from a zany jokester to an angry old man at his shows!
Semisonic: Remember "Closing Time"? Of course you do! If you every want to read a great music biography/band memoir check out the book by Semisonic's drummer, Jacob Slichter.
Soul Asylum: Guilty pleasure..gotta admit I still like "Runaway Train."
The Replacements: You be me for a while...and I'll be you.
Husker Du: Bob Mould's band. Bonus: it means "Do you remember?" in Swedish.
That's the list I came up with...I wanted to make sure I didn't leave anybody out, so I called my boyfriend Mike..whose musical knowledge far exceeds anyone I know. (I call him Mikepedia). He came up with a bunch of bands from the 1960's...including the Castaways, the Litter, CA Quintet, the Accents, the Gestures....and one I can't believe I forgot. The Trashmen!
We have Minnesota to thank for that classic song..the bird, the bird, the bird is the word..
How could any one hate a state that brought us such a musical treasure?

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